NEW | Palestine Opens Embassy in London, Affirming Statehood Amid Ongoing Genocide in Gaza
Palestine’s ambassador to the UK, Husam Zomlot, hailed the inauguration of the Palestinian Embassy in London as a historic milestone and “proof that our identity cannot be denied,” following Britain’s formal recognition of the State of Palestine in September.
Speaking at the ceremony in Hammersmith, west London, Zomlot said the upgrade from a mission to a full embassy represents a political shift, not a symbolic gesture, affirming Palestinians’ inalienable right to sovereign statehood after more than 100 years of struggle.
He stressed that for Palestinians in Gaza, the occupied West Bank including East Jerusalem, refugee camps, and the diaspora, the embassy stands as evidence that their presence cannot be erased nor their lives devalued.
The embassy’s flag-raising on September 22 was attended by MPs, diplomats, and members of the public. However, the building was later targeted by masked attackers waving Israeli flags and defaced with pro-Israel slogans, prompting Zomlot to demand comprehensive protection.
While welcoming the diplomatic breakthrough, Zomlot said it comes under the shadow of “hell” in Gaza,
